ASSETS: Literary Terms

The dictionary definition of a word

A comparison of two unlike objects using "like" or "as"

Word choice

A model or pattern of a character, setting, plot, or symbol used in a variety of literature

A reference to a person, place, thing, or idea from history, culture, or literature

Words that don't mean exactly what they say

Genre in which an author tells stories about personal memories, usually about a specific theme

The author's attitude toward a subject

Emotional appeals used in persuasion

Logic and reasoning used in persuasion

An extended metaphor story where characters, settings, and events symbolize abstract ideas

Giving human characteristics to nonhuman objects

Using humor, irony, and exaggeration to make fun of a serious problem in society or a person

Genre of literature using actual historical setting or historical figures

The emotional connection of a word (positive or negative)

An object in a story that represents some abstract idea

A discrepancy between what is expected vs. what actually happens

A direct comparison of two unlike objects

An extreme exaggeration

Authority, credibility and trustworthiness used in persuasion